grandmaD: turtle here

[grandmaD]

My next big issue is my stomach issues:

After I had daily nausea for 7 months in one stretch then 9 months in another it tapered off and went away.  However, after that, I developed indigestion, aches and pains around my middle, a pain in the lower right side of my abdomen and "fullness in stomach" so that I had to force myself to eat because I continued to lose weight.

 

Test showed gallsltones and surgery was suggested.  I was reluctant to do this because I wasn't sure if this was also a w/d symptom.  This all began in 2013 and I think it was about that time PP closed and I was still struggling with daily headaches and/or severe head pressure and not coping, so I never joined another site.

It took a year for the surgery date to come up and by that time the aches and pains were a lot worse despite not eating fat or gluten.

 

I also had pain in by rib-cage and that often went around to my R back to my spine/shoulder blade.

 

I was reassured by the specialist that the surgery would "cure all that."  I was also told surgery was very quick, easy and simple, going in through the navel.  I was not told they went into 3 other places as well.  I was told to go home and "eat whatever I liked."

 

I cannot tell you how horrendous this "simple, easy" surgery was!  It was the most awful thing I have had to have.  I was supposed to go home the next day!  I was told I would be much better in 6-8 weeks.

 

At my 7 week visit, I still had the aches, pains and stomach problems!  He brushed me aside and said well those things must be other issues!  It has taken me a good 5-6 months to get walking again for 20mins, to feel strong and feel like I am over it.  But I still have the stomach issues, except for the "full" feeling.

 

I can eat much better, probably twice or three times more than before but still losing 1kg a month.  The dr. put me on sustagen but I felt that it upset my stomach also.

 

I also had gastrostophy (down the throat) which showed inflammation of the oesophagus, so we don't know what symptoms that might be causing.

 

I recently had a catscan of abdomen which came back normal.

 

A colonoscopy also came back healed from previous removal of polyps with no new ones. 

 

Dr. now tells me the stomach issues are also anxiety along with the tight chest, breathlessness, palpitations, rapid pulse, insomnia and so on.  If this is the case, then I need to get my anxiety under control.... or take longer for drops... or hold again.  I will have to look back over my notes just for anxiety and see what it did during drops and holds, etc.

 

Today, I mentioned the added stressors above, and now have a very bad pain under the sternum area.  I was going to blame the lemon balm but now I wonder if that is the anxiety.

[grandmaD]

I had a read of what the site says about melatonin, it sounds pretty good, but just one concern I have which says:

 

By Rhiannon

 Some studies have shown that especially with older females, using melatonin supplements can cause an increase in cortisol. I've experimented with it myself (I'm a postmenopausal female) and found that for me, at least, there's a definite correlation between how much melatonin I use and how bad my morning cortisol surge is. (Although the main thing that affects my morning cortisol surge is my benzo taper.) I still use very small amounts of melatonin but quite cautiously.

 

I might have to look Rhiannon up and talk to her? 

[grandmaD]

I found "mintec" capsules for IBS relief, abdominal pain, cramps, bloating and wind.  I took one at lunch time.  Pain still there, but will report how I go later in the day.

[grandmaD]

I am going to look on E-Bay for Claire Weekes - any particular book good?

[Songbird]

Your plan for your visit sounds well thought out.  There's only so much you can do, because other people will make their own choices that are beyond your control, but as you say, you can't just ignore family without trying to do something to help the situation.  It's hard because it can be stressful, so look after yourself as best you can.  It will be good if you can get away to do something relaxing and enjoyable.

 

The Claire Weekes book I have is called "Complete Self-Help For Your Nerves".  I think it is a revised version of "Hope and Help For Your Nerves".  I haven't read the others.  There is one called "Pass Through Panic", I think, that is probably aimed more at panic attacks than general anxiety, but I think her message is generally similar for both.

 

I ended up with gallstone problems as well a few years back.  Although I already fit the high risk profile, I felt that the paroxetine may have been at least partially responsible.  They could never detect any actual stones on the ultrasound, but I had several very severe attacks that sent me to the white cross clinic and/or hospital.  I wasn't happy about the prospect of surgery so I did a natural cleanse several times, which fixed the problem.  Problems began to return about a year later, but a repeat series of cleanses sorted it out again.  So far it hasn't returned (touch wood).  I read that some people still have pain after the surgery, and that without a gallbladder, gallstones can form in the liver.  You could possibly try a liver cleansing supplement such as milk thistle, or dandelion tea.  It might be something to investigate further, anyway.

 

Inflammation of the oesophagus could possibly cause a feeling of stomach pain or heartburn.  I believe that, because Paxil acts as an anti-inflammatory, in withdrawal we get a lot of rebound inflammation all over the body.  Have you tried ginger?  It is an anti-inflammatory and good for stomach issues.  Lemon balm is supposed to be good for the stomach and also for anxiety and palpitations. If you feel the lemon balm is helping, but you're worried that it might be adversely affecting your stomach, perhaps adding some ginger in as well might help.  You could also add in a bit of manuka honey (yum).  Chamomile tea is also supposed to be good (although I don't think it tastes that nice).  I can't remember if you are keeping a food diary to see if you react to any particular foods.  Oats are supposed to be good for the stomach and digestion, and are also calming.

 

It is annoying how doctors resort the "anxiety" diagnosis when they can't figure out anything else.  It is possible that physical anxiety may be part of the equation.  I've found that at times my abdominal muscles are subconsciously held very tightly, which can produce some discomfort, difficulty breathing properly, and propensity towards anxiety symptoms.  This might sound crazy, but I've found that firmly massaging the abdominal muscles can release the tension and help the area relax.  I kind of kneed and squeeze the area, from the centre right out to the sides, which can be a little uncomfortable at first (so start gently) but then starts to feel quite good.  You can try both the upper and lower part of the abs and see if anything helps.

 

I haven't noticed any connection between my use of melatonin and early morning "surges", although I haven't really been looking for one, and I'm not post-menopausal yet.  The thing with melatonin is, the body makes only tiny amounts of it, much smaller than the melatonin pill doses, so even very tiny doses can have a significant effect in the body, which makes it worth experimenting with tiny doses to see if an optimum dose can be found.

 

Well, I've rambled on long enough, it must be nearly bedtime.

[ladybug]

Like Songbird, I haven't noticed any early morning cortisol issues from Melatonin. I've been taking it nightly for five years now. I'd like to taper off of it soon. I take .25mg, and even that is much more than what your body naturally produces. I'm astounded at that dosages that are usually sold: 3mg, 5mg etc. .50mg is the recommended dose, but I was unable to find anything smaller than 1mg so I buy those and cut them in quarters.

 

Hope and Help for your Nerves is a classic! It should be required reading for anyone in WD or just suffering from anxiety in general. It does a great job of explaining and therefore taking the fear out physical symptoms of anxiety.

[grandmaD]

We are back home again having done all we could.  I tried to talk to my son, with no success, but we we were able to help practically by helping financially with the car so he can find work and get to work.  I coped reasonably well, especially since it was not without crisis. I put that down to the Serapax.  It sure is nice!!!  It really helps me feel calm and i think that helps the stomach issues also.

 

He was very dopey, non- responsive and out of it the afternoon we arrived and the next day.  Because I hadn't seen him or talked in 2 years, I didn't know what was normal for him.  By lunch the 2nd day he was perspiring like anything and complained of chest pains.  We took him to hospital and waited around for 3 hours, so I missed my arvo nap, but coped better than I used to.  

 

 

They did ECG, x-ray, blood and urine tests.  After 3 hours I went back in to see him and he was a different person, with much better colour, alert and responsive.  They  wanted to repeat the blood test in 6 hours time, so we went home.  I wondered if he had taken "too much of something" again and that's why the repeated blood tests.  They also put him on a drip.  He had been drinking the night we got there and he is not supposed to touch alcohol, so that could have done it too.

 

He didn't tell me much and hospitals won't tell anyone else anything, only the patient, so I'll never know.  After that he was just a way different person.  Now I have to see if he is going to talk to me again (by phone) or if I will get ignored again. 

 

I spoke to grandson tonight who said he has ran up there 4 or 5 times for each crisis and never hears from his dad in between and doesn't hold out much hope for me getting a call either.  Pretty sad.  If that is the case we won't be going up there again (took us 6 hours) or helping out financially, that's for sure.

 

To make it worse, he is in touch with the ex again.  She eggs him on and then rejects him (causing him to self harm, etc) and so on.  I noted down his drugs and he is on:  Janumet XR which I have googled and found is a drug for diabetes

          Valpro 500  which is for epilepsy

          Gliclazide 60mg TVR (Diamicron) (not looked it up yet)

          Reboxetine (Edronax) (not looked it up yet)

          Quetiapine 25mg (not looked it up yet)

He told me is also on a sleeping tablet, which could be one of the ones I haven't looked up yet....drinking coke and diet coke... eating KFC ....

Don't ask me how I feel about him being on this cocktail of drugs!!!  You will never hear the end of it!!

[Songbird]

Gliclazide is also for diabetes.  Quetiapine is Seroquel, an anti-psychotic, but 25mg is a very low dose, so it may be for anxiety or sleep.  Reboxetine is an anti-depressant, a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.

[grandmaD]

Gliclazide is also for diabetes.  Quetiapine is Seroquel, an anti-psychotic, but 25mg is a very low dose, so it may be for anxiety or sleep.  Reboxetine is an anti-depressant, a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.

He was told he is bi-polar so perhaps that is why the Seroquel.  The Rebox the way you describe it - What does it mean?   Then is not an SSRI?

Grandson said my son posted on FB that he had been drinking OOzo and ended up in hospital.  That would explain it.

[grandmaD]

Your plan for your visit sounds well thought out.  There's only so much you can do, because other people will make their own choices that are beyond your control, but as you say, you can't just ignore family without trying to do something to help the situation.  It's hard because it can be stressful, so look after yourself as best you can.  It will be good if you can get away to do something relaxing and enjoyable.

yes, thank goodness I have a sensible, practical and wise husband!  We had planned a day in a van park to rest and relax, but we stayed that extra day anyway with him so that didn't happen.  We did spend the first day at home relaxing.  Your words are also wise, and we are trying not to dwell on it all, because as you said it is out of our control.  yes, it is difficult when it is family.  I am certainly doing everything I can to look after myself, thanks for that!

 

The Claire Weekes book I have is called "Complete Self-Help For Your Nerves".  I think it is a revised version of "Hope and Help For Your Nerves". 

I have reserved this book from my local library so looking forward to reading it.

I ended up with gallstone problems as well a few years back.  I

I remember that and recall your reluctance to have surgery and wondered about the outcome!

Although I already fit the high risk profile, I felt that the paroxetine may have been at least partially responsible. 

It wouldn't surprise me one bit

They could never detect any actual stones on the ultrasound,

I did have multiple stones and they said the gallbladder was inflamed and stuck to 3 different organs - liver, stomach and bowel.

Problems began to return about a year later, but a repeat series of cleanses sorted it out again. 

Did you use milk thistle and/or dandelion tea to do the cleanse?

I read that some people still have pain after the surgery, and that without a gallbladder, gallstones can form in the liver.  You could possibly try a liver cleansing supplement such as milk thistle, or dandelion tea.  It might be something to investigate further, anyway.

Thank you, I will certainly look into those.

Inflammation of the oesophagus could possibly cause a feeling of stomach pain or heartburn. 

That is where it is tricky, as I didn't know whether it was the oseophagus or the gall causing the trouble.

I believe that, because Paxil acts as an anti-inflammatory, in withdrawal we get a lot of rebound inflammation all over the body.

I never knew Paxil had an anti-inflammatory in it!  What other ingredients are in it???  It makes a lot of sense that as we go off the drug, we could get inflammation.  I recall having 4 or 5 sore throats once, in one year, lots of back ache, hip pain, shoulder and knees, which could have been related to that also as all those have improved heaps. 

 

[grandmaD]

.

It is annoying how doctors resort the "anxiety" diagnosis when they can't figure out anything else. 

VERY ANNOYING!  because Dr wrote it on my info so that when I complained to the specialist about the abdominal aches/pain and ribcage ache and gall ache AFTER SURGERY - He

said it was anxiety.

 I've found that at times my abdominal muscles are subconsciously held very tightly, which can produce some discomfort, difficulty breathing properly, and propensity towards anxiety symptoms. 

Now that I have taken the Serapax, (which says it is an anti-anxiety for alcohol w/d) I notice that problems improved heaps, so they are obviously anxiety releated.

This might sound crazy, but I've found that firmly massaging the abdominal muscles can release the tension and help the area relax.  I kind of kneed and squeeze the area, from the centre right out to the sides, which can be a little uncomfortable at first (so start gently) but then starts to feel quite good.  You can try both the upper and lower part of the abs and see if anything helps.

If it has to do with cramping (and I still have permanent cramping in my lower legs) then the massage will help.  I have found a hot water bottle helps too.  Last night I got out my tennis ball again.  I used to use that when I had constipation to roll around my stomach.

[grandmaD]

I took some STRONG lemon balm to bed and sipped it every 2 hours when I woke and it does help keep the anxiety down to a minimum, however I woke with a headache and I have noticed this before when I made it strong.

That made me realise that perhaps with the Mercyndol, which is also now giving me a headache the next day, that perhaps 2 tablets is too much now for my brain.  I think I thought of that before, thinking next time to just try 1 tablet.

[grandmaD]

One other thought I wanted to mention is from the gall surgery.  Apparently I was in recover for 3 hours which is way longer than normal.  My breathing would not return to the acceptable 8 breaths a minute (10 is normal).  I was very dopey, but conscious.  She tried to get me more alert by making me look around the room, etc. but in the end asked the ward if they would take me anyway.

 

She discovered that every time she gave me painkiller (morphine, I think) my breathing went very low so she would not give me any more and they wouldn't give me any pain killers in the ward either for some time.

 

I had told them I got tight chest and breathlessness, but perhaps they thought 1/4 aropax is nothing and still gave me the normal anaesthetic which was probably too much and they probably discounted the fact I was in withdrawal, even though I told them.

 

This is an issue I think everyone going thru w/d needs to consider when they have surgery.

[Songbird]

The Rebox the way you describe it - What does it mean?   Then is not an SSRI?

Reboxetine is not an SSRI. It is an NRI (norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) or NaRI (noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor - noradrenaline being the old word for norepinephrine). It needs to be used with caution in patients with epilepsy as it seems it can promote seizures in some people. Other than that I don't really know anything about it.  It seems to be a bit different to most other ADs, and something that is tried when other ADs such as SSRIs, SNRIs and TCAs haven't been effective.

[Songbird]

I never knew Paxil had an anti-inflammatory in it!  What other ingredients are in it???  It makes a lot of sense that as we go off the drug, we could get inflammation.  I recall having 4 or 5 sore throats once, in one year, lots of back ache, hip pain, shoulder and knees, which could have been related to that also as all those have improved heaps.

 

It's just the one active ingredient - paroxetine.  Something about the way it works produces an anti-inflammatory effect in the body.  Which in w/d is reversed, so we get rebound inflammation.  Old inflammatory conditions (e.g. hay-fever/rhinitis, dermatitis, asthma) and injuries can flare up.

[Songbird]

I took some STRONG lemon balm to bed and sipped it every 2 hours when I woke and it does help keep the anxiety down to a minimum, however I woke with a headache and I have noticed this before when I made it strong.

That made me realise that perhaps with the Mercyndol, which is also now giving me a headache the next day, that perhaps 2 tablets is too much now for my brain.  I think I thought of that before, thinking next time to just try 1 tablet.

 

Dose is key with anything.  Maybe moderate rather than strong would be better - see if you can find a good balance with enough anxiety reduction but without headaches.

[grandmaD]

Thanks for the info Songbird.  I made the lemon balm up weaker last night and no headache today.  I also put some ginger in it.  I have been using ginger in my tea for 20 years and got so used to it that tea without it tastes foul!

 

I don't know how long my son has been on that anti-depressant,  He used to be on Citropolam.  I think that one also warned against taking it with an anti-epileptic too.  Maybe they changed him after he o/d to this one.

[grandmaD]

Does anyone else get little red itchy dots with each taper?

 

I normally get 1-3 of these  in tender areas, like forearms, inside thighs, buttocks.  This time I have about a dozen of them.  I wondered if they are hives,but hives I think are big, these are tiny.  I used to think an ant had bitten me but they come with every drop.  I went to a dr. once but he didn't know what it was.

[Ali4]

I get them on my face They come and go, then after a while they don't come back.

[LexAnger]

I got it couple times on my legs, face. like all other symptoms it changes over time and differ from individual to individual. It seems to me more like an allergy reaction triggered by our body's immune. It should not be a big concern unless it is constant and severe.

sending hug to you Grandma.

[grandmaD]

Interesting to see others with same thing.  It is of no concern compared to other issues.  I did think it might be an allergy thing as I've been eating lots of tomatoes from our garden, but then again, I have had these spots right through, so even in winter. 

[grandmaD]

Ladybug, I was thinking of you last night when I had a 'funny" head.  It was definitely sore, but in a different spot to usual and I wasn't sure if I had a headache or what.  I took 2 panadol "rapid" the sort you dissolve.  Afterwards I didn't know if I had head pressure or head vibes or a combination.  I felt sort of dizzy, weak and funny.  The head vibes got worse and anxiety hit and I felt funny so took my pulse and it was 111. 

 

Pulse was up last week from 100-115 and just this week it had come down to the 70's/80/s.  I had been trying to determine if it was something I was eating, but not proven anything yet.  Anyway, it was pretty definite this reaction to the panadol so I checked the ingredients.

 

I assumed it was just panadol, however found it also contains:

phenylanine - does anyone know what THAT is???

saccharin sodium (I know saccarin is bad for you)

sucrose (I don't eat any sugar, ever)

aspartame (I recall this being bad for you also)

sodium (salt, I assume)

 

Anyway, this stuff is made by GSK so I'm going to look for someone else that makes panadol.

 

So, Ladybug, I was wondering if you had taken any painkillers or something different to usual that may have caused your funny head?

[grandmaD]

I have copied this from another thread I had posted on so I have a record of it here:

 

 

Due to anxiety and very high pulse (100-115) recently) and insomnia I searched everything to do with anxiety, insomnia and early morning cortisool, etc.

 

I only just started vit B complex, starting slowly with 1 tablet a day, so am considering if it is this

 

I was put on "Sustagen" by the doctor for weight loss.  After having gall surgery, many things disagree with my belly so I am on an IBS diet and I tried Sustagen about 4 diferrent times and tried again last week, so wonder if it is this stuff.  I finally checked ingredients and it contains lactose and I drink lactose free milk.  It also contains corn syrup which I have read is something no one should ever consume!  While it seems too upset my belly, I'm not sure if is causing anxiety to worsen.

 

I drank lemon balm all day and night for 2 days and it also seems to upset my guts.  The first day and night it didn't affect pulse, but after 2 days, pulse is back to 100, still not good.

 

The other thing I wondered about was "Movicol".  I know you have to drink lots of water with it and I thought I was, but I increased water intake anyway.  It was only as a result of my son going to hospital that they told him he was dehydrated and that was the cause of his rapid pulse (106) that I learned about de-hydration and rapid pulse.

 

Consequently, I will stop the vit. B and the "Sustagen" and try and introduce them again at a later time one at a time.  I think I'll stop the lemon balm also.  I can't stop the Movicol.  It gets really complicated when you have several things going, even if only once a week!  Then a very slow process trying to introduce things back, once a week.

 

When I read about the early morning cortisol thing, I wanted to race off and take extra vit. C. aspirin and magnesium all at once - but I did refrain!

 

The other thing that caused my head vibrations to worsen was the internet, despite having the screen turned down quite dark.  That is why I could never be on it for very long.

 

I find anxiety is also worsened by things outside my normal routine and by extra exercise, housework, walking, etc.

[ladybug]

Ladybug, I was thinking of you last night when I had a 'funny" head.  It was definitely sore, but in a different spot to usual and I wasn't sure if I had a headache or what.  I took 2 panadol "rapid" the sort you dissolve.  Afterwards I didn't know if I had head pressure or head vibes or a combination.  I felt sort of dizzy, weak and funny.  The head vibes got worse and anxiety hit and I felt funny so took my pulse and it was 111. 

 

Pulse was up last week from 100-115 and just this week it had come down to the 70's/80/s.  I had been trying to determine if it was something I was eating, but not proven anything yet.  Anyway, it was pretty definite this reaction to the panadol so I checked the ingredients.

 

I assumed it was just panadol, however found it also contains:

phenylanine - does anyone know what THAT is???

saccharin sodium (I know saccarin is bad for you)

sucrose (I don't eat any sugar, ever)

aspartame (I recall this being bad for you also)

sodium (salt, I assume)

 

Anyway, this stuff is made by GSK so I'm going to look for someone else that makes panadol.

 

So, Ladybug, I was wondering if you had taken any painkillers or something different to usual that may have caused your funny head?

 

Gran, I looked up phenylalanine and apparently it is an amino acid. Not sure how much is in the supplement but here are the side effects according to WebMd:

 

What are the risks of taking phenylalanine?

Phenylalanine can trigger allergic reactions, with symptoms such as:

• Itching
• Swelling of the face or hands
• Trouble breathing
• Tingling feeling in the mouth

Side effects may include:

• Heartburn
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Anxiety and hypomania (a milder form of mania)
• Sedation
• Jitteriness and trouble sleeping

Doses higher than 5,000 milligrams a day can cause nerve damage.

Risks. People with certain conditions should avoid using this supplement, including:

• Parkinson's disease (symptoms may worsen.)
• Schizophrenia (Tardive dyskinesia, a movement disorder, may develop.)

You also should avoid the supplement if you have sensitivity to phenylalanine or a condition in which your body can't break down phenylalanine.

And use caution in taking phenylalanine if you have:

• High blood pressure
• Trouble sleeping
• Anxiety or other psychiatric problems

 

 

 

I am wary of taking anything these days. Most days I just suffer with the headaches cause I'm afraid of having to take aspirin every day and what it can do. I know it can cause stomach bleeding, etc. I had to take one today to be able to work and it helped for a few hours thankfully. But yeah, I didn't take anything that could have caused them.

[ladybug]

 

Ladybug, I was thinking of you last night when I had a 'funny" head.  It was definitely sore, but in a different spot to usual and I wasn't sure if I had a headache or what.  I took 2 panadol "rapid" the sort you dissolve.  Afterwards I didn't know if I had head pressure or head vibes or a combination.  I felt sort of dizzy, weak and funny.  The head vibes got worse and anxiety hit and I felt funny so took my pulse and it was 111. 

 

Pulse was up last week from 100-115 and just this week it had come down to the 70's/80/s.  I had been trying to determine if it was something I was eating, but not proven anything yet.  Anyway, it was pretty definite this reaction to the panadol so I checked the ingredients.

 

I assumed it was just panadol, however found it also contains:

phenylanine - does anyone know what THAT is???

saccharin sodium (I know saccarin is bad for you)

sucrose (I don't eat any sugar, ever)

aspartame (I recall this being bad for you also)

sodium (salt, I assume)

 

Anyway, this stuff is made by GSK so I'm going to look for someone else that makes panadol.

 

So, Ladybug, I was wondering if you had taken any painkillers or something different to usual that may have caused your funny head?

 

Gran, I looked up phenylalanine and apparently it is an amino acid. Not sure how much is in the Panadol  but here are the side effects according to WebMd:

 

What are the risks of taking phenylalanine?

Phenylalanine can trigger allergic reactions, with symptoms such as:

• Itching
• Swelling of the face or hands
• Trouble breathing
• Tingling feeling in the mouth

Side effects may include:

• Heartburn
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Anxiety and hypomania (a milder form of mania)
• Sedation
• Jitteriness and trouble sleeping

Doses higher than 5,000 milligrams a day can cause nerve damage.

Risks. People with certain conditions should avoid using this supplement, including:

• Parkinson's disease (symptoms may worsen.)
• Schizophrenia (Tardive dyskinesia, a movement disorder, may develop.)

You also should avoid the supplement if you have sensitivity to phenylalanine or a condition in which your body can't break down phenylalanine.

And use caution in taking phenylalanine if you have:

• High blood pressure
• Trouble sleeping
• Anxiety or other psychiatric problems

 

 

 

I am wary of taking anything these days. Most days I just suffer with the headaches cause I'm afraid of having to take aspirin every day and what it can do. I know it can cause stomach bleeding, etc. I had to take one today to be able to work and it helped for a few hours thankfully. But yeah, I didn't take anything that could have caused them.

 

[brassmonkey]

Hi GrandmaD-- Being a curious monkey I had to look it up:

 

Phenylalanine is a precursor for tyrosine, the monoamine neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and epinephrine (adrenaline), and the skin pigment melanin. 

 

We just can't seem to get away from this stuff can we.

[ladybug]

.

[grandmaD]

Thanks guys for looking that up.  Sounds very toxic.  I'm definitely not touching that one again.  Interestingly enough it doesn't say HOW MUCH of any of those other ingredients are in it!  The phenylalanine ingredient is in capitals and bolded, which made me wary.  From what you found out Tom, perhaps it was the adrenaline aspect that set of my anxiety and rapid pulse.

 

I just checked my diary and it was that same night it took me 4 hours to get to sleep, so I am pretty sure that's what did it.

 

I am thinking seriously about what you said Ladybug about not taking anything.  I am such a sook when I think about it because my headaches have come back to an average of only 2 a week which is excellent for me.  Not only that, I have discovered that for the past year, painkillers have actually helped/worked, whereas before that, I could take 3 a day and it didn't touch my headaches.  Considering that the headaches I get now are so much better too, I mean, not as severe, I really should put up with it like you.  I have done that a couple of times, especially when they come late in the day because I found they were gone next day.  Anyway, I think I have convinced myself not to take any painkillers, especially for mild and dull headaches, so thanks for the encouragement in that area!

[grandmaD]

Another thing I want to post that is an encouragement, is that after the last 6 month hold, i felt that overall, the next couple of drops were much better than what I would normally experience.  Something to think about when you are holding, I reckon.  You may not see much improvement during the hold, but perhaps somehow we are gaining "money in the bank" to tide us over for better future drops.

 

This is my 3rd drop and it probably isn't so good, due to stress with son, but I am now in week 4 and will keep going as I am coping reasonably well. 

 

The days that my head doesn't have ANY issues - which is great - because in the past if I didn't have a headache, it was a pressure head or head vibes or a sore head or the lot - so to NOT HAVE ANY OF THESE is TREMENDOUS.

 

On these good days, despite the other symptoms, I have felt somewhat more normal and found myself recently actually initiating a conversation with a couple of old blokes (last month,who lived next door to my son when we visited him recently.)  It felt so good to be able to have a normal conversation with someone!

 

Other things I have done a couple of times in the last month is to go shopping!  Hubby has always done the groceries and I have not needed to shop because of my lovely friend (the one I have kept in touch with, not matter what every week).  As she grew out of her clothes, I was losing weight, so over the years, she gave me heaps of size 14 clothes, then the following year, size 12 clothes but now I am down to a size 10 and so I have been to the op shops and got myself new clothes and just doing this has made me feel good also!  The last couple of times I actually spent an hour browsing!  This too, made me feel more normal!

[ladybug]

Oh Gran, I don't think you have to suffer through the headaches. I don't remember, but is there a particular reason why you don't take Aspirin?  I don't like to take Acetaminophen (the main ingredient in your Panadol) because it's bad for the liver. I used to take Ibuprofen, but then there was a study put out that said it could lessen antidepressant effects and a member here swore she went into full WD when taking it so that has scared me off of it unless I'm having bad menstrual cramps. So when it comes to the headaches I've settled on Aspirin for the time being lol. I have an eye exam tomorrow so we shall see if bad eyes are the culprit.

 

Sounds like you are having some major improvements, I'm so happy for you! I know clothes shopping is my #1 favorite thing to do when in a really good window.

[grandmaD]

re: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/33-waking-with-panic-or-anxiety-managing-cortisol-spikes/?view=getnewpost

 

Ladybug, if my link works, check out what she found out about aspirin and thyroid and see what you think.  If I said I don't take aspirin, I can't remember why, but I do take it from time to time.  I take ibuprofen too, but hadn't heard that about it.  My friend sent me a whole lot of stuff about how bad panadol is and she won't take it.  I got another one of those headaches yesterday, just a mild dull one, so I didn't take anything and I rested for 1 hour and it went away!  I really think if we can, we should avoid taking anything and I'm going to do that from now on.  It seems to me it is mostly from stress and so I hope to find more ways to rest, and sit for a bit (as if I'm not doing that already!) 

 

When I was desperate one time (before I found Blackmores Reme-D) I was looking for something different to all the abovementiioned and found Naproxen which is actually recommended for menstrual cramps.  I took it for 3 days in a row (it says not to exceed 3 days) and for the whole week, I felt great.  It is an anti-inflammatory and for cramps.  That was when the cramps were bad in my stomach after the gall surgery and it helped that too.

 

Glad you are getting your eyes tested, sure can't hurt.  Have you had more of those headaches since that first one?

[ladybug]

Thanks for the link, Gran. Very interesting. I already have an issue with low T3 so perhaps I should rethink the aspirin. It seems to work better for me than Ibuprofen though.

 

I've been having these headaches every day for the past month and they last all day pretty much. It's definitely wearing on me. I had the eye exam done and the doc said I have a very slight vision issue and I can't recall the specifics but she prescribed me glasses to wear during work to see if it helps. I work several hours a day on the computer and it's mostly numbers which she said causes more strain on your eyes than reading words because there are no context clues so you have to focus more. She said if they don't improve to see a doc about sinus issues or hormonal problems. I definitely have hormonal issues so maybe it's that. I don't know, I'm just over them.

[grandmaD]

I'm glad to hear the eyes aren't anything serious, so that's a relief.  It's a pain that all painkillers have some side effect issues!  That's okay if you take them once in a while, but not when you need it every day.

 

Have you checked to see if you get those tabs I am on?  (Blackmores Reme-D)  Otherwise, look for the ingredients in it, which is FEVERFEW and B vitamins.  I will list all the ingredients next time if you want.

 

How often are you doing your drops, it looks like it was only a month for the last one?

[ladybug]

I looked it up but that supplement is not available in the US. That's interesting about the B2 helping headaches though! I never heard that. Many people in WD find B vitamins stimulating. Do you not have that issue? I'm willing to try it though. Even the aspirin is not helping anymore.

 

I think the time between my last drops was more like 7-8 weeks. I was hoping the drop would improve the headaches since dropping sometimes improves symptoms for me, but didn't happen.

[grandmaD]

I'm sorry to hear you still getting the headaches, babygirl, that is disappointing.  It might take a bit of time to see if the glasses help.  Did you get yourself a decent chair and desk yet?  I'm sure that will help a lot.

 

I'm not sure if it is B2 especially, just that the B vitamins are good for stress.  The herb, feverfew is supposed to be good for migraines.

From 9 migraines a drop I came down to 1 a drop after 12 months and for the last 2 months had none.

 

This week saw a dramatic rise in headaches with 3 dull headaches and 1 bad one, but that could be due to external factors. 

 

I got my book of Claire Weekes from the library and started reading it, it is quite interesting.

[grandmaD]

Just a bit of an update.  Since February when I started to recover a bit more from gall surgery, I felt like the w/d symptoms were pretty mild and i was coping with that aspect pretty good.  I am still struggling with stomach issues, guts ache and pain in the lower right abdomen.  because of weight loss, I had been trying to incorporate more fat and started on 1/2 whole milk and 1/2 low fat, so whether it was that or not, who knows.  I am just fed up with trying to juggle what I eat with these symptoms.

 

Added to that was constipation back again so back on the Movicol, for weeks and weeks until I tried to cut it back to every second day.  I think this was a mistake and i was so constipated I got back on it every day, plus suppositories for 3 days and finally the senna laxative WHICH ALWAYS WORKS but not good to take regularly.  I put on 1kg overnight but lost it again overnight after that (if you can read between the lines).  TMI!

 

Onto something else to change the subject!  I thought I was doing pretty well w/d wise and had been having more good days and for the first time I went for a week without a bad day, so that's exciting!  Suddenly I woke up one morning feeling like I was back in my batcave.  Lethargy, feeling low and despondent, heavy, weak and tired an hour after getting up.  This lasted the next 3 days so that was a shock to the system.  I am just coming out of it now.  I can't believe how quickly I fell back into that sense of "I can't go on; I won't make it; I'm dying; this is killing me and so on". 

 

I wonder if it goes around in circles, with the anxiety and rapid pulse, but having more energy and feeling hopeful around to feeling heavy, slow and lethargic, depressed and hopeless.